Scripps Sports Lands Rights to Vegas Golden Knights, Will Air Games Over the Air Locally

The move reflects similar departures from the RSN model

The Vegas Golden Knights and Scripps Sports have signed a multi-year agreement to offer all locally broadcast Golden Knights games for free to viewers throughout the team’s broadcast territory in and around Nevada. The deal marks the second time in just a week that a pro-sports team has left its RSN for a local broadcast channel, following Gray TV’s deal with the Phoenix Suns and Mercury last week. Scripps will air all non-nationally exclusive Golden Knights games on its KMCC-TV station, which currently airs ION programming. Financial details were not provided.

Golden Knights games had previously been televised by AT&T SportsNet Rocky Mountain, but WBD Sports has announced plans to exit the RSN business, and the network will be shut down in the near future.

It appears that the Golden Knights will also be available on a DTC basis in addition to over-the-air on KMCC-TV. The announcement states, “The Golden Knights and Scripps are committed to collaborating to provide fans with a direct-to-consumer streaming option as part of this partnership. Details will be announced when plans are finalized.”

KMCC-TV will be rebranded as an independent station before the 2023-24 NHL season begins; Scripps’s ION programming will continue to be available to Nevadans over-the-air, on pay TV, and on connected- TV platforms through a move to another Las Vegas broadcast channel. In addition to the Golden Knights games, the new KMCC will broadcast local and national news, local sports, and additional entertainment programming.

Scripps also owns Las Vegas ABC affiliate KTNV-TV, which it says will provide a strong marketing platform for KMCC and the Golden Knights telecasts and has carried VGK preseason games since the franchise’s inaugural season of 2017-18.

“This deal is a significant win for our fans because they will be able to see our games on television and for free, if they wish,” says Vegas Golden Knights President/CEO Kerry Bubolz. “That was our goal in finding a new TV partner. We wanted to serve our fanbase in the best way possible.”

The Golden Knights are the first professional-sports team to reach a deal with Scripps Sports, which launched in December. It is the second deal that Scripps has announced in the past 15 days, following its recent agreement with the WNBA to televise regular-season games on ION on Friday nights.

“We have been impressed by the Golden Knights’ commitment to winning and their desire to connect and engage with fans in Vegas and outer markets as well,” says Scripps Sports President Brian Lawlor. “This is going to be a wonderful partnership, and it’s the fans who will benefit most. We launched Scripps Sports with the belief that we could help teams reach more fans through our stations, which do not depend on subscriptions and additional fees for the consumer.”

The Vegas Golden Knights broadcasters, led by the multiple–Emmy Award–winning duo of Dave Goucher and Shane Hnidy, will remain on the call for Scripps Sports’ games. Broadcasts will include pre/postgame coverage for every game, with additional distribution into Idaho (Boise, Idaho Falls, and Twin Falls), Montana (Billings, Butte-Bozeman, Glendive, Great Falls, Helena, and Missoula), Nevada (Reno), Utah (Salt Lake City), and Wyoming (Casper-Riverton and Cheyenne-Scottsbluff).

This marks the latest chapter in what could be an exodus from the RSN model by pro-sports teams. Diamond Sports Group, owner of the Bally Sports RSNs, is in the midst of bankruptcy proceedings, and WBD Sports has announced plans to wind down its operation of AT&T SportsNet RSNs across the country.

For more on Scripps Sports’ plans for the regional sports market, read our recent SVG Sit-Down with Scripps Sports President Brian Lawlor.